The Medications and Illnesses listed below are based on suggestions, recommendations, some prior use by ourselves and from other breeders, fanciers and vets.  You should first clear any usage of these medications with your Veterinarian.  What works for some cavies might not work for others, if the cavy has an undiagnosed secondary problem.
TCC is not responsible for the improper use of the information or medications listed.

Illnesses and Possible Treatments for Cavies

ABSCESS:  localized collection of pus - sometimes surrounded by inflamed tissue if caused by injury.

TREATMENT:  open abscess by using #12 scalpel.  A very small incision should be made - only large enough to allow pus to drain.  Wash with Hydrogen Peroxide and apply Panalog Cream or other Antibiotic Ointment.  Purassan Ointment may be used.

NOTE - Most abscess do not emit an odor.  If a foul smelling odor is found after you have evacuated the abscess, use of an additional oral antibiotic should be used and Veterinarian help is recommended as the odor usually indicates a staff or strep infection is present.

ALOPECIA:  loss of hair - usually found in older or pregnant sows.  This is sometimes thought to be caused by mites.

TREATMENT:  gently wash sow in anti-mite shampoo and/or spray lightly with Mycodex Sensi-Care by Pfizer.  Only treat pregnant sow if she is not dilated for delivery.

NOTE - If the hair continues to fall out after treatment, it is more than likely only hormonal changes in sow causing the loss.  It could take several weeks but the hair will return in this case.

BROKEN BONES:

TREATMENT: wrap the injured animals in a clean, dry towel so that no further injury will occur.

TRANSPORT TO YOUR VETERINARIAN IMMEDIATELY.

CLOUDED EYE: found in newborns - thin film coating the eye or eye completely matted shut.

TREATMENT: Puncture one Vitamin A capsule and squirt a small amount directly into the infected eye.  If eye is sealed, wash first with warm water to open the eye using a soft, clean cloth.  Squeeze the remaining amount of the capsule into the Kit's mount for oral absorption.  Continue till eye clears.

CYSTS:

1. Sebaceous Cyst - usually found on the back and downwards toward the rump area.  However, they can be found anywhere on your cavy.

TREATMENT:  If the cyst remains small leave it alone.  If raid growth is noted, lance and drain matter as with an abscess.  If cyst is excessively large, seek Veterinarian help as an anesthetic will be needed to evacuate this cyst.

2. Ovarian Cyst - these can grow up to the size of a golf ball and your sow will still have no discomfort.  Usually a sow with an ovarian cyst is more active when in season.  Unless you notice the sow losing condition, not eating, etc. no medication is needed.
   

CYSTITIS:  found in both boars and sows - usually caused by any kind of obstruction of the Urethra such as a stone whereby urine then stagnates and builds up in the bladder or urethra.  A possible cause for this could be too much protein in their diet.  However, this has not been a proven fact.

DIARRHEA:  loose stool.

TREATMENT:  Imodium A-D orally by dropper or syringe approximately 1/2 cc by syringe or about 1/8 of the length of the dropper.

EAR MITES:  scratching of ears, shaking of the head spastically, black gooey residue emitted from ear.

TREATMENT:  Mytox squirted into the ear and massaged twice daily.

NOTE - Use of the standard Ivermectin Treatment usually avoids this problem.

EYE PROBLEMS:

1. Conjunctivitis or Pink Eye - red inflammation, matting, swollen lachrymal gland.

   TREATMENT:  Terramycin Ophthalmic Ointment in infected eye - morning and evening - for approximately five days.

   NOTE - If only one eye is infected at first, the other eye will generally follow suite within 3 to 5 days.  Conjunctivitis can be passed from Cavy to Cavy - put the infected Cavy in an isolated cage until the infection has remained clear for one week.  This is not a serious (deadly) problem; only a very annoying one...

2. Injury on Eye - will appear to be a soft white scab directly on eye or might look like a cataract.

TREATMENT:  Vetrachloracin Ophthalmic Ointment (Chloramphenicol 1%) in injured eye two times a day (morning and evening) for approximately three days.  If injury hasn't started to shrink after three days, rest eye for one day and then continue treatment for an additional three days.  Remove cavy to own cage to prevent further injury.

FOOT PROBLEMS:  

1. Scab on pad of foot from injury.

TREATMENT:  Make sure your Cavy is on a solid bottom floor that is free of sharp or rough areas.  Apply an Antibiotic Cream such a Panalog and remove chips from the cage and house the Cavy on clean paper until the sore is healed.

2. Swelling of Feet - Could extend up leg.  Scabbing found on the foot pads that is not caused from wire floored cage.  Sometimes noted and called 'Bumblefoot'.  This is thought to be a fungal infection.  Do not remove scabs as they work as a seal to stop open wounds from becoming infected.

TREATMENT:  Anti-Fungal cream massaged into problem area two times a day for three days.

POSSIBLE TREATMENT:  Griseofulvin (Anti-Inflammatory).  PLEASE NOTE that this drug has questionable use in cavies but has been used successfully in small amounts in Europe.

FUNGUS:  bald patches, flaky skin, itching - loss of hair.  Might appear to look like Mange in the beginning stages.

TREATMENT:  Human or Veterinary Anti-Fungal ointment.  Human ointment may be found over-the-counter at any Pharmacy.  Place just a small amount of ointment on your finger and apply this to the exact spot in question.  Do Not apply to the surrounding area.  Just a few applications of cream should be needed (twice a day for two to three days).

NOTE - It is recommended that while you are treating a cavy for a Fungal infection, you increase the amount of Vitamin C intake for the animal.  This can be done by giving extra veggies high in Vitamin C (Parsley/Kale) or by adding more Quintrex Aqua C to the water bottle.

HEAT STROKE:  hot, lethargic, limp body with panting. 

TREATMENT: cool animal in water beginning with lukewarm and gradually getting the water Colder until the body temperature drops.  Administer fluids (Dextrose, Saline, etc.) sub q (under the skin) or orally if they will take it.

IMPACTED RECTUM: if the boars testicles are not pliable and easily pushed together.  Impactation is in the pouch like area between the testicles.  The impacted matter has a most unpleasant odor.

TREATMENT:  Using a paper towel and Vaseline, gently push until the matter is expelled.  If necessary soak in water until waste matter can be removed easily.

IVERMECTIN TREATMENT:  {see link below for charts/dosage}

MANGE:  flaky skin, itching, dryness and loss of hair.

TREATMENT:  bathe in Mycodex Shampoo and use standard Ivermectin Treatment.

MIDDLE EAR INFECTION:  wry neck - head tilted to one side.

TREATMENT: Terramycin Ophthalmic Ointment squeezed into both ears (not just the one infected) and massaged so that the medication reaches the inner ear.  This should be done twice a day.
ADDITIONALLY - Aureomycin Powder may be added to the drinking water for a period of three days.  Isolate this animal from the herd until all signs of the infection are gone.

~ Veterinarian Help Recommended ~

OPEN WOUND:  any injury where skin is cut, broken or torn.  This could be a bite from another cavy, cage injury, etc.

TREATMENT:  If the area is over 3/4" long or deep enough to require suturing, Veterinarian Help is Recommended.  If area is smaller and manageable, wash the entire area with a solution of warm water (1 cup) and Hydrogen Peroxide (1/4 cup).  Pat the area dry with a clean gauze pad.  Now check to be sure no infection has entered the area.  If you notice puffiness around the wound, gently push the area and clear it of all pus.  Then rewash, again pat dry and apply a small amount of Panalog Ointment (or any Antibiotic Ointment).  If infection was present, you might wish to add Aureomycin Powder to the drinking water.  Check the wound two times a day and continue to drain (if needed), wash and dress with ointment as needed.
After a scab forms be sure that no infection remains beneath the scab.  Test by gently pushing on the scab.  If pus seeps from beneath the scab, soak scabbed area with a Hydrogen Peroxide swab and drain.  Apply Panalog Ointment.

PEA EYE:  fatty tissue on the conjunctiva.  Heredity - This IS NOT an Illness or Infection!

TREATMENT:  Surgery  --  Not Recommended ....

POISONING:

NOTE - Cavies can NOT Regurgitate - DO NOT administer anything to induce vomiting.  Put the animal in a darkened transport carrier and 

TRANSPORT TO YOUR VETERINARIAN IMMEDIATELY.

PREGNANCY TOXEMIA:  sow listless, not eating or drinking, sitting in the corner of  the hutch hunched with fur ruffled and dull.    

TREATMENT:  immediately make a solution of one quarter teaspoon of regular table sugar and add to 8 ozs. of water.  Administer to sow via syringe or eye dropper directly into her mouth.

Possible Prevention:  Administer  solution as stated above via sow's water bottle
the last two weeks of pregnancy to prevent toxemia from occurring in the first place.

LIFE THREATENING

Possible Treatments:

	Enrofloxacin Baytril 2.5 mg/kg two times a day (possible side effect of diarrhea)
	Trimethoprim Sulphadiazine Tribrissen 30 mg/kg two times a day - injected
	Sulmet/Sodium Sulfamethazine 1 teaspoon/16 oz of water for four days.  This med has a bitter taste.
	SMZ-TMP, DiTrim, Bactrim 15 mg/kg orally two times a day

If you have any further questions please feel free to contact us: